Italy's first 2-euro commemorative coin for 2026 has been issued. The coin's theme is "200th Anniversary of the Birth of Carlo Collodi – Pinocchio." The obverse features a dancing Pinocchio, the hero of Carlo Collodi's masterwork "Pinocchio: The Story of a Puppet." In the right field, Pinocchio's shadow looks on in astonishment at the talking cricket perched on his elongated nose – grown long after one of his characteristic lies. Along the upper rim, the commemorative inscription "CARLO COLLODI" and the years "1826" and "2026" are visible. To the left is the "R" of the Rome Mint; to the right, the country code "RI." "PINOCCHIO" is inscribed along the lower rim, with the initials "MB" of coin designer Marta Bonifacio at the lower right. The twelve stars of the European flag are on the outer ring. The coin is initially issued with a mintage of 10,000 in BU coincard, 250,000 in roll form, 10,000 each in proof case and reverse proof, and 2,500 of each proof variant in a proof coin set. Whether a circulation issue will follow, as in previous years, and at what mintage, has not yet been announced.
Source: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, 2026 Issue Programme